Jul 12, 2017RWJBarnabas Health Facilities Named 2017 Most Wired

Most Wired Hospitals Use Technology for a Better Patient Experience

West Orange, NJ, July 10, 2017— The 19th Annual Health Care’s Most Wired® survey, including the list
of Most Wired Hospitals, was released by the American Hospital Association’s
(AHA) Health Forum. RWJBarnabas Health facilities named to the 2017 Most
Wired list include: Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville; Community
Medical Center in Toms River; Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch;
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood; Newark Beth Israel
Medical Center in Newark; RWJUH- New Brunswick; RWJUH-Somerset; RWJUH-Hamilton;
RWJUH-Rahway; Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston; and Children’s
Specialized Hospital.

HealthCare’s Most Wired® survey, conducted between Jan. 15 and
March 15, 2016, is published annually by
Health & Hospitals Networks (H&HN). The 2017 Most Wired® survey and benchmarking study is a leading industry
barometer measuring information technology (IT) use and adoption among
hospitals nationwide. The survey of 680 participants, representing an
estimated 2,146 hospitals—more than 34 percent of all hospitals
in the U.S.—examines how organizations are leveraging IT to improve
performance for value-based health care in the areas of infrastructure,
business and administrative management; quality and safety; and clinical
integration.

“We are honored to again receive this prestigious designation for
so many of our care facilities. RWJBarnabas Health is improving the efficiency
of care delivery through advances in technology and IT systems across
a multitude of platforms,” says Robert G. Irwin, Chief Information
Officer for RWJBarnabas Health. “We are optimizing clinical workflows
so that our clinicians receive timely alerts and are able to quickly respond
to patient needs.”

According to the survey, Most Wired hospitals are using telehealth to fill
gaps in care; provide services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; and expand
access to medical specialists.

“Hospitals are breaking-out of their traditional four walls and providing
care where and when patients need it,” said Rick Pollack, president
and CEO of the AHA. “These Most Wired hospitals exemplify this transformation
by harnessing technology, engaging patients and offering services remotely.
And, removing policy and other barriers to telehealth will allow even
faster adoption of these amazing technologies.”

Some examples of IT Advancements at RWJBarnabas Health include:

Further expansion of Clinical Decision Support for quality and patient
safety including automated early warning systems for Sepsis, resulting
in a reduction in Sepsis mortality in our health system.

Improved adoption of clinical communication platforms with enhanced security,
including secure text messaging and a more robust Health Information Exchange.

Use of analytics gaining more capability to assist in promoting value-based care.

Expanded use of Remote Patient Monitoring kits, enabling contact and monitoring
of patients post-discharge from the convenience and comfort of home.

Addition of the ability for RWJBarnabas Health Connect users to schedule
appointments from mobile app.

Significantly upgraded security to protect patient privacy.

Detailed results of the survey and study can be found in the July issue
of H&HN. For a full list of winners, visit
www.hhnmag.com.

About RWJBarnabas Health RWJBarnabas Health is the most comprehensive health care delivery system
in New Jersey, caring for a service area of more than five million residents.
The system includes eleven acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical
Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Jersey City
Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch,
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel
Medical Center in Newark, RWJUH in New Brunswick and Somerville, RWJUH-
Hamilton, RWJUH- Rahway and Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston;
three acute care children’s hospitals and a leading pediatric rehabilitation
hospital (Children’s Specialized Hospital), a freestanding 100-bed
behavioral health center, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers,
the state’s largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home
care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy
services, a medical group, multi-site imaging centers and four accountable
care organizations.

RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s second largest private employer
– with more than 32,000 employees, 9,000 physicians and 1,000 residents
and interns – and routinely captures national awards for its outstanding
quality and safety.